A pervasive gaming event delivered by Larkin’ About & the Library Theatre Company on March 3rd 2012 in Manchester Town Hall.
All images by © Ian Taylor.
Larkin’ About’s photostream on Flickr.
Gareth Cutter – one of the artists we’ve commissioned for Library Theatre / Larkin’ About’s Manchester Histories Festival project – is looking for actors to take part in his pervasive game Lions After Slumber. If you’re interested in getting involved, read on!
I’m looking for volunteer actors to participate in a theatrical pervasive game project for the Manchester History Festival in association with The Library Theatre and Larkin’ About on Saturday 3rd of March.
This is an exciting opportunity to associate your name with a large festival, put your skills to use in a unique outdoor setting and perform in front of a new audience of game players, keen on exploring the history of Manchester through play.
Who Am I Looking For?
I’m looking for the following performers who are comfortable working outside in an urban environment and with a small degree of improvisation. Previous experience in similar work is preferred but not essential.
4 x male actors (aged 20 – 50)
1 x female actor (aged 20 – 50)
All available on Saturday 3rd March between 10am – 4pm
What Will You Need To Do?
You will need to:
* Read and memorise a short brief on the character and a character’s script in advance
* Read and learn the rules of the game so you can help the players play it as easily as possible
* Be available to speak in person or over the phone about the role in advance of the game
Fees and Expenses
There will be a small budget to put towards travel and food expenses for the day, which will be paid at the conclusion of the game. Please let me know your requirements when applying.
Regrettably, there isn’t a budget to pay actors a dedicated fee at the moment.
How Do I Get Involved?
Please express your interest by emailing cutteruption(at)gmail.com (replace the at with an `@’), putting Manchester History Festival in the subject line and marking it for the attention of `Gareth Cutter’.
Do share any details that you think would make you particularly suited to the role e.g. previous experience, qualifications etc. and ask any questions you may have.
Participants will be notified and selected shortly after Friday 24th February.
Many Thanks,
Gareth
Cutteruption
Liz Postlethwaite discusses The History Game, a pervasive gaming project delivered by Library Theatre & Larkin’ About for the Manchester Histories Festival on 3rd March 2012.
Come and play!
Sat 3rd March, 11am – 4pm.
Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB
Free!
Do you fancy searching and collecting, sneaking and peeking, chasing and racing round one of Manchester’s most beautiful landmarks for one day only? Then join Larkin’ About for The History Game and find out more about Manchester spending a day playing indoor and outdoor games.
Join in with a diverse group of artists. Gareth Cutter explores the relationship between the working classes and figures of authority during the Industrial Revolution. The Victorian theme continues with Rebeka Haigh’s exotic bird hunt, before Peter Keeley hurls us to the centre of a criminal investigation at the turn of the century. We are then catapulted to Soviet-era 1956 where Oscar Mike brings us The Telephone Exchange, a team game of secret communication, bluffing and political loyalty. Bren O’Callaghan then allows us a peek into the hidden and unexpected stories of Manchester’s past.
Pervasive games fuse the spectacle of theatre with the thrill of playing games. They allow us to explore our surroundings in a new, fun and immediate way.
Come out and play!
This event is delivered by the Library Theatre Company and Larkin’ About.
Playtesting – Manchester Histories Festival, a set on Flickr.
Some images from our Manchester Histories Festival Playtest. More to follow.
Big thanks to the players that braved the snow, were good sports and gave great feedback, and a massive well done to the designers who made it all so much fun.
Our Manchester Histories Festival project with Library Theatre is well underway. We received a large number of applications from artists, and found it very difficult to whittle them down to five. In the end we chose ideas with lots of potential to engage with local history in a fun and accessible way.
These ideas are currently being developed and tested ready for Saturday 3rd March where there will be an explosion of activity around Manchester Town Hall. Players will be searching and collecting, sneaking and peeking, chasing and racing round one of Manchester’s most beautiful landmarks for one day only.
This programme brings together a diverse group of local artists. Gareth Cutter is exploring the Peterloo Massacre through a chase game depicting the relationship between the cavalry and the protesters. The surreal is explored in Rebeka Haigh’s exotic bird hunt, whilst Bren O’Callaghan gives us a fascinating glance into the experience of Black Elk, a member of the Lakota Sioux Indian tribe who was left stranded in Salford in 1887. Peter Keeley hurls us to the centre of a petty crime at the turn of the century which must be paid for. We are then catapulted to more recent years in Oscar Mike’s team game of secret communication, bluffing and political loyalty.
Further down the line we’ll publish full programme details. In the meantime, if your interested in helping to playtest some of this work, head here.
Larkin’ About and the Library Theatre Company are looking to support a selection of artists and performance makers to develop a series of pervasive games for the Manchester Histories Festival 2012. The Festival will see an exciting day of pervasive gaming around Manchester Town Hall on Saturday 3rd March as part of The Big Event. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your practice, explore history from a playful perspective and work in and around one of the city’s most exciting and dramatic buildings.
You will work alongside Larkin’ About and the Library Theatre Company to:
· explore game mechanics in a game design workshop
· develop your game idea through one-to-one mentoring
· ‘play-test’ your idea amongst other artists
· deliver your game as part of Larkin’ About programme The Big Event at Manchester’s Town Hall on Saturday 3rd March
A pervasive game can be described as a game which takes place in and enriches real live environments. For a better understanding of pervasive gaming, why not come to Larkin’ About’s free evening of games at Contact Theatre, Saturday 3rd December 2011, from 5pm. Check out the event page for more information.
This is a paid development opportunity. For more information about how to apply please download the Expression of Interest form.
